Chicheley Hall
I recently carried out dog chaperone duties for a wedding taking place at Chicheley Hall. Having had the opportunity to look around the vevue during the day I thought I would give my thoughts about Chicheley Hall for those who are looking at wedding venues in Buckinghamshire.
Chicheley Hall History
Chicheley Hall has quite a long and interesting history. The present Grade 1 listed building was built between 1719 and 1723. There was however a manor house on the site much earlier that was owned by the Pagnell family. Around the time of the English Civil War is transferred to the Chester family.
During the second World War Chicheley Hall was used as a training school for the Special Operations Executive. Post war it was used for weddings and conferences but was also used in a number of films including Pride and Prejudice, The Fourth Protocol and Enigma (where it was used to represent Bletchley Park). In 2007 it was sold to the Royal Society who used it for conferences and science seminars. It was sold again to the current owners in 2021 who decided to use it as a hotel and wedding venue.
Chicheley Hall Wedding Venue
The wedding took place on a Saturday over the early May bank holiday. Hannah and Tom were the bride and groom and I was booked to look after their Boxer called Sully. Chicheley Hall is a popular wedding venue located in Newport Pagnell which is a 35 minute drive from my location in Northampton. On some websites they refer to it being located near Milton Keynes.
Many in the groom’s party were booked to stay at Chicheley Hall both the night before the wedding and the wedding night itself. As such I had access to one of the dog friendly bedrooms in the main building on the day of the wedding. Sully would be required later in the day for a few photos with the bride and groom but he was not taking part in the ceremony in any other way. The bedrooms in the main building at Chicheley Hall are a very good size, both the bedroom and the ensuite bathroom.
The main image at the top of this article is taken from the long driveway looking towards the front of this impressive venue. It’s fully licensed for civil ceromonies up to 100 guests. Many couples however may decide to book St Lawrence Church for the wedding vows which is located in the grounds of Chicheley Hall. The majority of the day though including wedding speeches, the photographs and the evening party are likely to take place in Chicheley Hall and other buildings on the grounds. The extensive grounds of Chicheley Hall offer some great backdrops for the outdoor wedding photographs. The grounds are also a great place for a wedding dog chaperone to exercise and toilet a dog during the day. I should also point out that the interior of Chicheley Hall also offers some good photo opportunities, everything from large rooms filled with natural light to a photogenic staircase.
If you would like to know more about Chicheley Hall I would suggest visiting their website, link below.
